"More focus on people in the design of public spaces"

No one talked about the visitor experience twenty years ago - now safety, dignity and expressive design are high on the agenda. FOJAB has been involved in changing the view of community architecture. This is the opinion of Kjell Adamsson, architect and head of the Community Properties business area at FOJAB.  

FOJAB's commitment to society goes back a long way. The desire to contribute to an equal and functioning society through architecture is a legacy from when the office was founded in 1971.

- We want to contribute to a better world. Of course, the view of society and its challenges has changed over the decades, but the basic attitude of being part of the solution is the same," says Kjell Adamsson.

Fundamental to a democracy
The headlines right now talk about high pressure on health and elderly care, the capacity of the courts and the challenges of the prison system.

- FOJAB can contribute to this. We have long experience of creating buildings and environments that are crucial for society to function. For people to receive health care, care, rehabilitation, a fair trial, etc. - basic functions in a democracy," says Kjell Adamsson.

FOJAB's customers in the Public Properties segment include government agencies, regions and municipalities as well as project developers in private companies. And behind each project there is often a long list of stakeholders. In addition to property owners and developers, there are also managers, tenants, users and external parties. Over a long period of time, FOJAB has built up expertise in managing this type of organizational structure and complicated decision-making chains.

Complex on several levels
Common to all clients is that they focus on complex projects with high ambitions in terms of both technical and design quality. Clients also want flexible solutions that can be adapted over time to new, changing conditions.

- All our assignments involve operations with high demands on logistics, connections, flows and safety. The environments are often technology-heavy and installation-dense, which makes our work with room design extra important.

Human needs at the center
Kjell points to the change that has taken place when it comes to the design of public buildings, perhaps especially court buildings. Interest in and understanding of the link between psychosocial aspects and spatial qualities has increased significantly - although there is still much to develop, he says.

- Twenty years ago, all the focus was on hard values like flow and safety. Few talked about the importance of elaborate design, about the visitor's experience of the environments, about creating security in an often difficult situation. Or about the value of exposure and the possibility of using the building to signal a content, for example the court as a representative of a healthy justice system. With the help of architecture, we can establish identity and belonging, enrich the place and create orientation in the environment.

- This focus on human needs is something that we at FOJAB have been actively working on for a long time and will continue to contribute to.

Care environments on the move
Kjell Adamsson foresees that healthcare environments will have to undergo the same development. The enormous technological development in healthcare has left its mark on design. Other values have been left behind.

- At the same time, we know that the environment plays a role in patients' recovery and well-being - it is no coincidence that the mental hospitals of old were located in green park environments. At FOJAB, we work to ensure that today's healthcare environments are not only functional, but also safe, pleasant and beautiful. We are supported by EBD, evidence-based design, many years of research on the importance of environments, the healing power of greenery and the value of daylight for patients' faster recovery.

Please contact Kjell!
E-mail: kjell.adamsson@fojab.se
Mobile: +46 708 83 80 82